Last year, FKA twigs and Shia LaBeouf settled the sexual battery lawsuit that had been going on since 2020. The settlement included a non-disclosure agreement, and months later the singer received an arbitration demand from the actor's legal team, claiming breach of contract for saying in an interview that she didn't feel safe. The arbitration was dismissed, and now her team is suing LaBeouf, claiming he's trying to silence her by enforcing an NDA that she says is illegal.
The complaint was filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court. twigs "files this action to right a wrong, and also on behalf of other women who are the victims of sexual and domestic violence who do not have the resources to speak out and defend themselves from predators," Mathew Rosengart, a lawyer for twigs, writes in the complaint. "In so doing, she seeks to ensure that survivors of sexual misconduct are not bullied or silenced like she was."
The lawsuit says the NDA is "in violation of the STAND Act, the provisions at issue unlawfully purport to restrict Ms. Barnett from disclosing any information about any acts relating to her own suffering of sexual abuse, assault, and battery by LaBeouf."
LaBeouf's team retaliated, saying the NDA wasn't unlawful because "the STAND Act’s Section 1001 protections extend only to survivors of 'sexual assault' — and not to survivors of 'sexual battery.'" twigs' new lawsuit responds, "LaBeouf’s preposterous argument should offend every citizen of California. In addition to defying common sense, it is also legally-erroneous because assault is a precondition of battery."
"He has still refused to acknowledge, however, that the NDA provisions are illegal and unenforceable, thereby creating this justiciable and actual present controversy," her lawsuit says. "In other words, it appears to be LaBeouf’s position that he — as a sexual abuser — may discuss Ms. Barnett’s trauma and suffering whenever he wants without restriction but that Ms. Barnett — as the survivor — is prohibited from discussing LaBeouf or her story."
The lawsuit doesn't seek damages and notes that the case is "about justice and law, not money."
Earlier this week twigs also asked for a declaration from a judge to put an end to cease-and-desist letters from a persistent alt-pop duo called the Twigs.
If you or someone you know is undergoing sexual abuse, please visit rainn.org or contact the National Sexual Assault Helpline at 1-800-656-4673.
